Love me for a Reason (2)

Read first part here

Ahlo, Brindha here, what happened? How much time you want me to wait here like this?

……

What? You could have told this earlier right?..cha…

……

Atleast come for half an hour yaar? Please… I need someone…

……

No, no I can’t wait till such time…I’ll also leave in that case … I wanted to discuss so many things with you……ok, my bad luck…I’ll talk to you later

…

Ok, bye!

(Sigh… she also ditched me…I also have to leave, no other go… but where to go? )

(Brindha mobile shivered with “Basker Calling” statement!)

Ah ahlo…

Ah brindha, basker here, is your lunch time over?

Ah, yes it’s over… now, just now I completed my lunch…

Good, can you apply for a half day leave please, I need to discuss something with you..

Leave-ah? Hmm… I don’t know… actually…

Please… it’s very important…

Hmm..Okay… I’ll ask for it…

Thanks, you let me know, we will meet somewhere outside… you decide the location, I’ll be there, ok!

Ah ok…

Thanks, bye!

(Oh god, what should I do now? I feel very guilty with these lies to basker! Hmm... ok, no other go, after some time, I’ll call basker and tell him that my leave got approved and will ask him to come here itself… )

(1 hour later...)

Hello brindha, did I make you wait for long? Sorry, traffic that’s’ why..

It’s ok; I also came just now…

Ok, first do you like to have something? That shop sells good butter scotch ice cream, come, let’s go there and have it first, then we can talk…

No, no… let us sit here please… you said; you wanted to discuss something..!?

Yes brindha… I don’t know how to start but…I… I actually wanted to tell it much earlier but… somehow didn’t have the courage till now… now I can’t go back without discussing it…

……

Brindha you might feel shocked to hear this… actually … I… I was in love… love with another girl before marriage..

(What… you too… )

Yes brindha, it’s true that I was in love with her…but only after some time we felt that our love wouldn’t end in marriage for apparent reasons… it’s true that we would be happy after our marriage… but only we would be happy after marriage is the bitter truth…

……

Brindha… during love our heart rules, but only when we think about marriage, our brain starts functioning…we talked and discussed a lot… finally we decided to hand over our life to our parents wish…

How is it possible basker? You love one and marry another?

Brindha what you ask is perfectly right… but tell me what’s the use of thinking on something again & again, when we are sure it’s not going to happen? Our only mistake was not to think about marriage when we started to love each other… the same weakness which everybody has been there in us too…we didn’t have guts to think or control those soothing feelings.. But we didn’t want to do another mistake again…

Sorry, I can’t accept your justification… think of that girl, how can she forget you and marry someone else?

Brindha, you are thinking emotionally but we decided practically… we didn’t want to waste our life thinking of our love failure…this life is precious brindha, there is so much to adore, look into & explore… it is something beyond words brindha… we simply didn’t want to waste our entire life thinking of just one false relation!

Ah… tell me one thing Basker, can you say with confidence that not even once after marriage either that girl or you wouldn’t be thinking about each other…?

Definitely it would haunt us, I don’t disagree…but we are sure that it would become a distant memory by time… what we have to make sure is those memories doesn’t anyway harm my present life… time heals brindha…time heals…

But basker, do you think it is easy for that girl to confess the same to her husband like you did today?

brindha, everybody makes mistakes, but what is important is that we have to learn from those mistakes, after learning, we have to make sure not to repeat those mistakes again… that’s enough for me, more than confessing our mistakes to our mother or father, husband to his wife or wife to her husband…what’s the necessity tell me…?

Isn’t it a betrayal she is committing against her husband?

For me it’s not so… thinking about past and destroying present life is betrayal for me… thinking about her always after marrying you is betrayal for me…not living with whole heartedly is betrayal for me… hiding my past life with you isn’t wrong as long my future life with you is in sync…

But why did you then confess to me?

Brindha, frankly I started liking you a lot… you appear to be a more practical girl for me… I had faith that you would understand me, if I confess it. But again it isn’t necessary for her to confess the same to her husband, she can say after so many years, or even she can hide it all along, if you ask me there is absolutely no necessary to confess it all, all now required from her is to forget the past & give unconditional love to her husband from now on..

So you think hiding the past and living new life is possible without hitch… right?

Brindha, I’m not asking to hide the past, just forget the past. This life teaches us a lot, so be this one. Rather than living guilty life assuming it as sin or betrayal, it is wise to live a happy life now so that people around you are also happy with you… so brindha that’s it, I am relieved now, I’ve told what I wanted to say… now you have to talk… will you forgive me brindha? Trust me, I will be a good husband to you…

Basker, I don’t know what to say… I actually…

You don’t have to say anything, just forgive me, that’s enough… if you want we can stay here a bit, otherwise we can leave.. I wont force you… take you own time brindha!

(few quite moments passed…)

Basker, if I ask you something, will you mind?

tell me, brindha, don’t hesitate please…

Basker, I need butter scotch ice cream, that too only in cone…

Hahaha..Brindha..i love you brindha… just hang on.. I’ll back in a moment…

(at home)

Brindha, what are you still thinking? Don’t you have to go to office tomorrow? It’s already late… sleep da…

No I don’t feel sleepy…basker, can you sing a song for me… I know you can sing well!

ok, I’ll sing a song for you… this is my personal favorite from boyzone…dedicated specially for my darling…

Smile an ever lasting smile
A smile can bring you near to me
Don't ever let me find you gone
'Cos that would bring a tear to me
This world has lost its glory
Let's start a brand new story
Now my love
You think that I don't even mean
A single word I say
It's only words
And words are all I have
To take your heart away

Talk in ever lasting words
And dedicate them all to me
And I will give you all my life
I'm hear if you should call to me
You think that I don't even mean
A single word I say

It's only words
And words are all I have
To take your heart away
It's only words
And words are all I have
To take your heart away

This world has lost its glory
Let's start a brand new story
Now my love
You think that I don't even mean
A single word I say
It's only words
And words are all I have
To take your heart away
It's only words
And words are all I have
To take your heart away
It's only words
And words are all I have
To take your heart away

Ahlo, Vaishnavi Madam! Basker here, sorry to disturb you at this juncture!

……

Ah, yeah…she is fine…sleeping peacefully..

……

oh no, only I should thank you…when I came to you to find out the reason behind brindha’s distress, you trusted me and shared all her past life…I didn’t find anything wrong in her, all I had to do is to create an imaginary girlfriend for her to believe me…

……

I’ll tell you that story later; it’s something which I had to do to make her come out of her cage…I just called you to say thanks for your help and update you that she is fine now in her husband’s love castle…

……

Oh I didn’t do anything big, it’s my duty… ok thanks bye…

(at office)

Hello Mr. Vasanth, Good Morning!

Good… Good Morning Madam!

you can call me brindha! Sorry that day I was in some other tension... That’s why couldn’t talk to you properly, today please meet me during lunch time, I’ll clear all your doubts as much as possible, ok!

Oh..Thanks Madam, sorry brindha, I feel much relieved now…

Haha..it’s Ok, Relax Venkat, let’s meet at lunch time, Bye!

(Love me for a Reason, let the reason be Love)

Coming Soon... U Turn, Behind the scenes, -10 to 50 etc.. all brand new stories...so keep visiting

Where are they?

Where are they?
Where are they?
Eyes which sob for others, where are they?

Where are they? Words which doesn’t hurt, where are they?
Where are they? Ears which hears other problems, where are they?
Where are they? Nose which smells fake concern, where are they?
Where are they? Brain which can identify diamond from coal, where are they?
Where are they? Heart which can identify true love in midst of covering gold, where are they?
Where are they? Hands which can hold those dying souls, where are they?
Where are they? Acts which promises hope for better day, where are they?

Where are they?
Where are they?
Souls to understand my feelings behinds this post
Where are they?

Where are they?
Where are they?
People who genuinely worry for others
Where are they?

Where are they?
Where are they?
People who read good blogs, where are they?
Where are they?

P.S. since this looks as if I wrote it in a dejected mood, I had to add the last two lines to add a bit of humor to it!

Love me for a Reason (1)

(Originally written on 2 June 2006)

Home

Why do you look so worried venkat?

It’s just been few weeks since I joined in this office mom, but still I couldn’t understand the work properly, my superiors keep on saying do this, do that… couldn’t understand anything at all… I’m completely lost…

New work, new place, it will always be like that only, why can’t you ask your colleagues to help you out… let me tell you one thing; you have to change a bit venkat, you cant expect people to come to you & help you out, only if you ask, you will get help, otherwise no.

I’m also thinking the same…tomorrow I would definitely go and seek somebody's help, no other way.

Ok, go and sleep, I’ve to prepare coffee for vasantha, she has an exam tomorrow, poor girl studying since morning…

everybody are worried about their own problem..Sigh… whom to ask for help tomorrow? People working with me are all hi-fi’s… will they help me if I ask for their help? Won’t they be making fun of me? Oh god, I’ll feel embarrassed if they make fun of me. Already one of the person is calling me by a nick name ‘curd rice’, if I go and ask him, then I’m finished..he will show off in front of others and start lecturing me like anything… ah…what to do? Oh god… I was happy getting this job, I didn’t know I would be facing such a crisis soon…k...Let’s see tomorrow what happens.

Office

Venkat, ask brindha to come and meet me…

Ye...Yes sir… I will do that sir...

Ah…that’s right… Brindha is the right person to help me… all others are waste… brindha is senior to me, she knows everything…she can clear my doubts… so far she is the one who impressed me a lot in this office… very simple girl… I also heard she got married recently… her saree selection and her bindi on her forehead… oh god…such a impressive look… I’m sure she won’t mind helping me out...but if I go and ask her for help, what will the other guys think of me...Won’t they feel I’m trying to act smart and impress girls? Oh god… where in the world I got such a good colleagues… but no other go… she is the right person for me...

Ahlo, eskuse me madam…

Yes, Mr…hmm... What’s your name?

Venkat madam, I’m a new joinee...

Oh I see, well, what do you want from me?

Madam, I have few doubts, can you please clear me?

On what?

In my work the…

Ah Mr hmm… Venkat, I’m very sorry, you better ask your Trainer.

Shit yaar… I deserve this response… leaving all my colleagues, I shouldn’t have come to her for help… why did I select her to help me? Looks were deceptive… she doesn’t have any manners at all…. Cha…now I feel very bad…

Ok thanks madam..

...anyhow today is Friday. No work on Saturday and Sunday… let me ask my colleague to help me out, so what if he calls me loudly curd rice in front of others, so what... let it be...atleast he would respond...

Oh poor boy… I shouldn’t have responded him like this… what he must be thinking about me? All my time, nothing is going good for me… it’s just been a week since I got married…already all are asking me why there is no glow in my face…why should I have glow in my face after marriage? How will it come? I’m still unable to accept Baskar wholly…. Oh god… I don’t want to cry once again in the office…

Sir, I need leave in the second half..

Why? What happened? Who will look after the dispatch then?

Sir, I have told kamala to look into it...

Look brindha, you have already taken enough leaves…

Sorry sir, but I’m not feeling well today...

I am also watching you, ever since you got married, you always look dull.. I’m worried Brindha, Anything wrong?

No sir, I’m not feeling well, that’s why… that’s why requesting you for leave… I’ll surely come on Monday sir...

Ok, I’m granting you leave, but look I want to see a more energetic Brindha from Monday, Is that clear to you?

Yes sir!

Bus stop

I cant go home now, if I go they will ask me too many questions, why I left office so early, what happened…I can’t handle them… what to do?... hmm… okay…that’s right…

…

Hello, is it Vaishnavi? I’m brindha here…

……

Nothing, just like that I called you… are you at home now?

……

Ok, then I’ll come to your home now…

……

Nothing yaar…just like that I’m coming to your place... if you are busy, tell me, I won’t come

……

Ok, I just wanted to talk to you on something..

……

Ok, as you say, I’ll wait for you at Spencer Plaza…. eh...Please come for sure ok...

……

Oh… I’ll wait for you…. don’t be so late please, I’m keeping the phone now…

………

Oh god, why can't I control myself, why am I so weak… it will take some time before vaishanavi reaches this place… what will I do till she comes? I just feel like crying on somebodies lap… see… there are so many lovers visiting this place, just to have fun and for a good time pass… even I used to come with my Ramesh here…

Ramesh…how many time I would have uttered this word… how many times I would have wandered here holding his hand without worrying for anything… those are my best part of my life…

Eh... ramesh buy that cone-ice for me da!

Eh...brindha are you a kid… always asking for cone ice and all… don’t take my life ok…

…

Eh, what happened? Why your face changed at once?

Eh, don't touch me and don't talk to me… why are you talking to me? I’m taking your life know… why are you behind me then… m going home now..

Eh...What brindha… I was just kidding yaar…why are you taking it seriously? Eh look at me… I said look at me… I always want you to take my life…and I always want to give my life for you…that’s my wish...understand sweet heart?

……

Eh, sorry da, don’t mistake me… tell me what do you want me to do? What should I do to change your mood? Ok… let me roam this entire plaza shouting brindha I love you, brindha I love you… will you be satisfied then?

Ayo ramesh, enough, stop it… I don’t want anything… I only want you to be with me…

Thank god, my brindha is back to her good mood, ok wait let me buy your favourite butterscotch…

Don’t buy in Cup, I want it to be put in cone only, and eh…ramesh..Please buy me two ok…

How are you Madam, you would need one Butter scotch right!

No...No thanks! Oh god… how come this shop keeper still remembers me…? Why did I stand before his shop…stupid.....let me stand somewhere else...?

……

Oh my hanky is already wet… how much this hanky helped me during my worst days… this is the one which always stood by me… without asking for reasons it wiped out my tears…

Ramesh please forgive me da… I want you to forget me…

What? Are you in sense? This is not the time to play with me…

No da, I’m in sense… my parents wont agree for our marriage, you know very well we have so many cultural differences… I can’t do anything against my father…

Brindha, you should have thought about this on that day, when you said “ramesh…. You are the one whom I need always….” not now dear… ok…If you are afraid, tell me, and let me talk to your parents…

Pleaseda, don’t do that… I’m afraid… my father is not the same person… he can’t handle another heart attack… and I don’t want to be the reason for it… please forget and forgive me…

Oh god… how can you say that to me… all these days you were in right sense… what happened now?

Ramesh, I agree…I forgot myself totally when I was with you… but now… it’s different… only when the discussion about marriage comes, I could see the reality… I made a mistake…. I should have controlled myself… ok… now I’ve changed… changed for good… please don’t try to meet me anymore… I can’t handle it da…the same people who did all things for me so far… I can’t stand against them… how I can say them that….

I feel like killing you at this very moment… it’s all my mistake... I should have discussed about our marriage the moment when we started loving each other… in between love & lust… I forgot about our future….

Ok, I can’t be here for too long….I’m going… please try to forget me and our love da…

From the moment I said that word and till the time I reached home… how much hard this hanky tried to console me….

What will Ramesh be doing now? Will he be still thinking about me? But I couldn’t still forget him… whenever baskar comes near me… whenever I feel his touch near me… I see Ramesh in him… I am not even allowed to die now… what will happen to my father if I commit suicide…no… I won’t commit suicide… my life belongs to my parents… I don’t have rights to kill it….

But what’s the solution for this? Why can’t I still forget ramesh..? Poor baskar…… how many days will he have patience for me…he is also a typical male in this society... he would also be having many expectation after marriage… oh god…Eh vaishu… how much time you will take to come here….?

(to be contd..)

Cry Baby Cry (2)

One minute… When is the last time you cried for anything?

Oh no… shit…the power gone… Wait, I will play you the rest through Inverter…

Not required yaar, I got the gist of your show anyhow…

There are still lot many interesting stuffs, husband confessing how he cried after thinking about her wife sacrifices post marriage… how she sacrificed her personal interest for the sake of looking after her family & work, … it was so moving…. And there is funny stuff as well, a kid crying just because her mother had to go to office when she wanted her in home, how the song “Meri Ma” in Taarae Zameen Par made otherwise tough guy to cry… oh god, I just can’t tell you how much I enjoyed doing this…

I can already see that baby…

So did you like my show?

Of course, you have really done a marvelous job, I only pray your boss do appreciate your work; hope he has the guts to introduce such novel themes into his channel…

So darling can I ask you one thing…

Yeah...of course…

When did you last cried…?

Haha.. Is this question asked for your channel or …

No, I just wanted to know…. Otherwise tell me when is the first time you cried for me…?

Ah…..let me think… when did I first cry for you? Yah... I remember now... I won’t say I cried for you... but it was certainly because of you…

Oh… when did I make you cry?

Long back, before marriage, when I first came to know about you through our common friend in our college…. Those were the days, where you usually had a reasonable circle of friends… whenever we friends meet; you were always surrounded by your own friends… you always used to have a galla time with them….

Hmm…

It is not that you weren’t’ talking to me, but it was more of a routine stuff or I can say a passing one talks… but those were the time when I really longed to hear more from you, all your stuffs, all your problems, anything that you wanted to say.. I just longed cant I be that person to hear those from you? I really had 101 problems going on in my family, but I never longed to share those problems with you, but I can see you had 1001 stories to tell, and I longed to hear all those from you… can you understand what I’m trying to say…

……

Really I can’t express how bad I was longing to hear more from you, the more you talk with your friends, the more I was longing why not me, why you didn’t want to tell that to me? Am I bad? Am I not good in listening? You would have known by now, I‘m the best listener you could have ever got...

……

but that time, you hardly wanted to share anything with me… the feeling was growing so intense that one day, when you were upset for some reason, and you were actually discussing the same with your friends, I was looking at you from a distance, I could see your face, it isn’t the same glowing one, it was upset for some reason, but what? What is that which made you feel down?

……

I don’t know, I was helpless… and I don’t have any way to find it out either, that’s the time I couldn’t control myself crying for you for the first time thinking about my helplessness, thinking about my possessiveness, thinking about my fate whether I could ever be successful to come more closer towards you.. Whether I would be the ONE, to whom you might wanted to share any damn thing that you wanted to say….

Can you come little closer please…?

I’m sorry, I really didn’t share this with you… may be I thought it wasn’t worth… but since you asked now, I really had to dig out from my memory…

Please give me a hug… I can’t imagine anyone better than you for me… I’m so sorry… I am so sorry that I took a long time to understand you… thanks for all the patience you had for me… I love you….

I love you too… now don’t get emotional, let’s go to bed… and all the best for your project…. Your boss would certainly give a green signal to it...

Venkat when is the boss coming?

I think he should be here anytime…..you look much tensed yaar…

Do I? You know how much effort we have put in for this.. Hope it gets its due…

Cool…I have already talked to boss yesterday about the program and also given him the CD, he told he would watch it at home… so wait…. He would come soon with good news…

Ting ting...ting ting… SMS…..

V E N K A T…! Message received from BOSS… “I watched your show last night, some how it didn’t appeal me totally!”… venkat you told boss would like our show… but…

Eh come on yaar… don’t lose hope… we can convince him….

No dammit!, he is not the person to get convinced…all our efforts are gone in vain….you know how much I struggled to get this one..

Oh god…. Why you are giving up so easily…it’s not the end of the world yaar…

Shut up yaar… you know I hardly looked my family for last 1 month, I was totally in this only, and first of all I should have never taken this job… I... I…

Control yourself yaar… everybody is looking at us… stop crying…

Get out from here & leave me alone… I’m not bothered…..

Eh, look boss is coming, wipe out your tears…

So madam, when was the last time you cried?

Boss… you…. I received your message….. You… like the show no…?

First of all stop crying and venkat ask your assistant to stop the camera… madam, stop crying and listen to me… your show is first class, I thoroughly enjoyed it… Infact I even messaged Venkat last night congratulating your effort, but requested him to hold on this news, until this final episode…

Final…?

Sorry, I wanted to see live when did you last cried for something? And I am damn sure it would be for this one if I say your show wasn’t that effective, and I asked venkat to shoot your emotions live with a hidden camera… and I’m quite sure it would have come well… and put this episode as the start to your show and then explain the users what your show gonna be… this would be a massive hit..

Thank you sir... thank you very much.. But venkat how could you hide it from me...

Boss is always right… so can’t bypass his orders….

Sir I certainly deserve an extra increment this year, especially for making me cry like this publicly…

Haha… no comments… hahaha… so venkat all said and done, when was the last time you cried…

Well… You guys know I own one personal blog, with great difficulty I come up with new posts periodically, though you people come and read, not even once you people bothered to put a single comment for my stories… that was the time I last cried thinking why people have so much time for any damn thing, but don’t want to spend few seconds to put few lines of comments for my story in my blog…? Am I not worth it?

Hahaha…

Sir this was not supposed to be a joke, don’t make me cry again...

(The End)

Cry Baby Cry...

Mahesh, do you have few minutes or hours for me?

Be clear, you want me to spend time with you for minutes or hours?

Hmm…. Hours please…

Then I’m sorry… I have some other work….

Darling, 5 years back you caught my hand saying you will spend a whole life time with me… so…

Oh jai mata di… now don’t start once again… yes…. Tell me…

You know my boss had asked me to come up with a unique concept show for our new channel last month right?

Yes I’m aware of it, you were running like mad for last one month on the same, infact you didn’t even allowed me to come near you &…

Stupid, shut up and listen to me… Now with the help of my cameraman venkat, I have come up with a new concept…Now I want you to see our recorded show and tell your honest feedback…. Tomorrow I’m planning to show the same to my boss….

OK, done, tell me first what this show all about…

My program is called “Cry Baby Cry”… it’s the first time in Asia, no no…first time in world television some thing like this concept has been telecast….

Oh great… so what is this “Cry Baby Cry”… another mega serial?

No duffer! Listen to me first… We from this program try to touch the emotional side of people… Our basic question to the people is “when is the last time you cried or worried too much for some issue”? We will meet the common people and pose this question to them… in between the program we will also air good positive tips from Psychological doctors / Divine Masters and if our boss permits some thought provoking songs in between…

Sounds interesting…. I don’t remember any program which goes to common public with this question; they generally ask the same old stupid question, what song you like the most? What is the first movie you saw after marriage...Blah blah... but you think people will come out to let their emotional side know to public?

Yes it works Mahesh, you won’t believe it, these are the emotions which generally people hide it but at the same time look for someone to whom they can share it… and this is the program which can help them... it worked like charm… I have edited my one month effort and recorded it on a DVD; just the people response you will see nothing else, not even my efforts in persuading them to reply...I want you to see it before I show it to my boss… please...

Ok play it madam…

When is the last time you cried sir…

I cried when I attended one marriage…

What? Interesting.... You cried in the marriage function… can you please tell me more about it…like...whose marriage it was?

It was my lover’s marriage… I wish I could say it as our marriage, but I could only attend that marriage as a guest and not as a groom...

So you cried because of that?

Not actually…. Because I cried lot for that before … So I attended that marriage function with lot more clarity and determination…

But why did you cry then?

After marriage, I went to the stage to gift the newly wedded couple… and during that time…

During that time..?

During that time…. My lover… sorry… that girl… introduced me to her husband…. You know how did she introduce me?

…..

She said I’m just her colleague…that’s it…. Nothing less or nothing more than that…

….

I didn’t cry that time…. But when I was about to leave at the gate... I just turned back and saw her…. I could see her with full of smiles talking to her husband and receiving the guests… that time…. I don’t know why... I just couldn’t control my tears… it just flowed… I just came out... I saw her kinetic Honda vehicle parked outside… I just sat on it for few minutes... The one in which we two would have traveled a lot keeping the back seat empty…hah…

Oh I’m really sorry for you… but I’m sure you both will be successful in your own respective life with equal & charming partners…thanks a lot for sharing…

One request… can you please hide my face while telecasting it… I trust you…. and she always trusts me…

Sure... sure sir… I can understand your genuine concern; it would be taken care...

Madam… can you please recall the last time you have cried for some reason…?

Well…. the more I dress in skimpy clothes and come on screen…. the more I’m paid…and it was couple of days back, we were shooting for yet another rainy song… after the shooting… when I was in my makeup room… the light man.. You won’t believe he came and gifted me a Silk Saree… Crazy..! People here want to see me without it... and this guy... who always project lights on me so that I look even more sexy... gifting me silk Saree and says… says… he respect me a lot… now what can I do for him… love him and marry?…take him to my home & offer him dinner?… or what?… what can I do in return for such concern?...

So what did you tell him?

For obvious reasons… I could just say thank you to him & shut the door… that’s what I’m supposed to do, nothing else… but after shutting the door… I cried … I cried… I cried as if there is no tomorrow…

As a woman I can understand your feelings mam… and thanks for sharing this…. Do you want your face to be covered while telecasting it…?

Its okay, anyway I’m not popular in this part of the world….even if people can recognize me… I would take it as a kind of publicity…

When is the last time you cried sir..?

I was traveling in the local bus like any other passenger, suddenly our bus was stopped and a policeman was checking as a formality because of recent bomb blast in Bangalore….

OK…

He didn’t ask questions or check any of the bags of any passengers …. But he just came to me and started asking all clumsy questions and embarrassed me like anything….. Just because I wear this one in my head doesn’t make me a foreigner... I’m also from this country and I respect its’ tradition and values…. Where do you guys want me to go? Why you people always see us as if you are seeing some ugly alien?... the way he treated me in front of others in the bus, really made me shed tears in the night… please I beg.. Let us live peacefully…

I understand your feelings bhaiya… don’t worry…. One day our country would be a better place to live… thanks for sharing your feelings…

Hello sir… can you please give us a minute…when did you think you cried last time and for what?

Well… I didn’t cry actually but I felt bad thinking about something…

Can you tell us more about that..?

Yes indeed… you know last week we had a bomb blast in Bangalore… the entire city was in panic… but I had to leave for my hometown in the same night… because of traffic congestion and police checking, I wasn’t sure if I could make it safely to my hometown.. But with extreme difficulty I did managed to reach the station and caught the bus…

OK…then…

I was actually expecting one of my friend to call me or atleast sms me asking if I’m safe or did I reach the station properly… I was actually expecting them to show me something to make me aware that they care for me.. But nothing… I didn’t receive anything from anyone…. Not even from those whom I cherish & value the most… that made me to think, think and think…. And ultimately…. I was feeling bad if I am worth of anything at all?

Very sorry sir… I hope you deserve one for sure… and thanks for sharing your true feelings to us…

Hi… cute girl… how are you… can you please share when is the last time you cried?

Thanks for the compliment... I did cry last night...infact I cried so heavily that I got cold today morning!

Oh is that so…. What made you cry so much?

I was watching Darr last night… and... Poor…shahrukh had to die at last… his true love wasn’t recognized…

But madam it’s a very old movie, may be you are watching it for the first time…

No it is probably the 11th time… but I just can’t see shahrukh die… I didn’t cry when mack died in the end in movie titanic, but this one does make me cry…

Well… I don’t know what to say…. But thanks for sharing your true sensitive feelings for us…

Madam…when is the last time you think you cried?

I don’t think I cry for anything…usually people can’t see me crying…

You mean to say you are not emotional…?

No I’m sensitive and emotional… but over the years I have the ability now to ensure not to show my cries outside…. May be few drops of liquids around the eye corner… which people can’t notice because of my specs…

Oh I see, atleast tell us when is the last time you had such a difficult time…

I love my family a lot… and so my work… but my daughter recently fell sick and she wanted me badly to be with her and make her comfortable… but because of my official duties…. I had to sacrifice my motherhood for a while and attend to the office works, but when I returned back to home, my daughter condition was worse than in the morning…. That time I cried a bit... Thinking if I’m doing my duties as a mother correctly? Was it worth working and slogging for the company who never tries to recognize it…?

It’s the true plight of many working mother these days…

I know…. But can’t help worrying about it... but I’m happy that I got a supporting family & understanding husband who can be with me during such difficult scenarios...

So how is your daughter now?

She is now doing very good… touch hood…haha… now I am slowly learning the art of taking care of my family and also my work in equilibrium… but I don’t want any of it to suffer because of the other…

I bet you can do it for sure madam… you are such a lovely mother…salute to your motherhood…. & thank you for sharing...

One minute… When is the last time you cried for anything?

(To be concluded)

Stranger

Dude, do you have a lighter?

Ah...yeah...Take it…

Thanks, do you have a cigarette by the way...

Never in my life have I faced such a clever way of talking to a stranger...I have only two... no probs you can take one...

Thanks buddy...

By the way who are you?

Strange question to ask me really… I’m the same as you are…

Diplomatic answer…but I was expecting some specific answer!

You will get to know…

Get to know means? You really need some tuition to help you how to talk to strangers…

Haha… you have a good sense of humour… why are you in a hurry…we have so much of time left until our turn comes...so that’s what I meant to say you will get to know soon…

Oh I thought I don’t have to wait long here…

Hahaha… again I must admit you have a very good sense of humour

No I was serious, I thought I don’t have to wait long here…

Oh if that’s the case Sorry boss I take back my compliment…

My god, I will lose all my patience if I continue talking to you…

Cool boss, cool… these days it’s very hard to get an immediate appointment here, you have to wait.. There are lots of cases like us who are waiting since morning…

My god…

No…our god…haha…

………

The problem is this is the only place in this area where these things are looked after...… so cool…chat with me till your chance comes…

I prefer standing alone rather than talking to you… I’ll get mad…

Hahah…whether you said it seriously or for a joke… I compliment you are the most funniest guy I have ever met…

And I must confess you are the weirdest person I have ever met…and I don’t think I’m gonna meet anyone from now on…

Thanks for your compliment… one of the beautiful habit that one should have is to compliment others for the one they deserve… and you have that good habit….well keep it up… If you don’t mind can you lend me one more cigarette please...

What… one more…Are you a chain smoker?

Then what you thought brought me here…?

Oh I’m sorry… but its okay…. You can have one more... But don’t blame me if you get yourself complicated with this one extra…

Hahaa… oh dude… haha… you wont admit… but you have a very…

Okay okay.. I admit… I’m very humourous… so what else..?

So you drive very fast?

Well I usually do... but how do you know about my driving…?

Hahaha…you are…

Please stop…

Okay, sorry... I could guess from your bandages all around...

Oh simply extraordinary… I couldn’t judge you at all…You look stupid many times, but time and again you prove me wrong…

This time, I would take this on a serious note, bcoz if I take it as a joke, then I would lose one compliment…

Hahah.. nice meeting you..what’s your name?

I have many names, which one you want?

You are a tough customer to deal with, tell me those which you cherished…

Dad..that name brought me tears when I first heard it…. Darling… I like that name very much whenever my wife call me at night… but the name I got yesterday night is very unique, not heard that name before but everybody started calling by that name since yesterday.. and somehow.. I feel that would be my name from now on…

Oh is it... what’s that name..?

Oh come on…. You too would have that name by now…

Oh I got it… they call us now BODY isn’t it?

Sadly yes… all these people call us in so many names, but once we lose our life, they could only give us a very ordinary name “BODY”.... I’m sure we deserved something better joel…

Joel… how do you know my name…?

Hope you won’t get shocked…

No, no please…I am eager to know…. Do you know me..?

Whom do you think you overran when you were driving so fast day before yesterday?

Oh god…Don’t tell me…. But you said, you are here because of your chain smoking habit…

Well anyway I would be here soon because of that…. And just to satisfy you I told truth… I was actually busy lighting a cigar in the middle of the road thinking there isn’t much of traffic…But didn’t realize your super duper driving skills buddy…

Oh I’m really very sorry…. I didn’t really mean it… I... I...I ruined your life…

Cool buddy...Cool...We are all ruining others life in some way are the other, through our speech, through our acts, through our body language and what not… some time accidentally, sometime unknowingly, and many a times knowingly…

But how do you know these details about me while I didn’t know you before…

I’m in this form for last 36 hours; you have only spent 6 hours… so you are yet to realize our powers dude…

I must confess you are really a sweetest weirdest person I have ever met…

Ok, anyways… There isn’t much time to discuss near the cremation ground to find out if it’s a funny statement or something being told on a serious note… because your time has come buddy… they have started to burn you Joel.… oh I’m sorry.. Burn you “Mr. BODY”…

So What....?

While I’m travelling in a bus and if I get a chance to sit… I have started a new practice..

what is it?

It’s not that I’ve become so generous that I started to offer seats for older people (though I may be tempted to offer seats to a good looking…ah…). I search for someone regardless of age / sex to see if they are holding on to any luggage’s with them. If so, I gently offer them to give to me their luggage, so that I can carry it along sitting while they can freely catch the bars while standing without any issues.

Why I suddenly started doing saintly acts?

Most of the times, I don’t get seat while traveling in bus, and usually I carry some bag or the other in my hand. Unfortunately no one bothers to offer me a help or atleast give me some space on the ground to keep my bag. While I painfully see if someone will come forward in keeping my luggage, (usually my travel hours may be not less than 45 minutes), they inturn painfully see my plight and keep themselves busy in looking on to the roads.

I started this practice last weekend, and I offered one person to carry his helmet (why helmet in bus??).. I cant really express his sudden bright face when I offered to help him and when his stop came, he returned all sorts of thank you’s to me.

More than calculating how much sin this act will reduce, it is the self satisfaction that we get at the end by doing such small acts which matters the most..

btw why can’t you try…

My dear big brother...

My dear big brother...

there are days I fought with you for no apparent reason

there are days I felt you are my competitor when our mother distributes sweets / crackers equally to all us

there are days I made you feel completely helpless

there are days I hurt you like no one could ever have

there are days I hated you like a cruel beast

there are days I showed partial love towards you

but

believe me I was more immature those days than now

believe me I never knew our family worth

believe me I never knew the value of brotherhood

believe me I never was a human being

now

remembering you once again on the day you left us

forgive me for all that I have done to you which made you feel upset

assuring you I’m there always for our family

My dear big brother

please bless us in whatever way you can...

Life starts after 20 weeks?

One major headlines floating on many TV news channels yesterday was that “The Bombay High Court yesterday refused permission to abort a 26-week foetus with a serious heart defect after rejecting the mother's plea to terminate the pregnancy in a case torn between trauma and ethical issues. Now the whole public is divided into two in discussing the rights and wrongs of the above court decision.

26 weeks potentially means the baby has the capacity to live, but will it be born without a complication is the question. The court says it doesn’t have any circumstantial evidences to prove that the child would have serious handicaps in its birth. However the doctors say that the baby had a congenital heart block which could be detected only now. The mother has a valid point in going for abortion now, since the doctor feels this could be identified only after 20 weeks of foetus. Also they claim the baby would need pacemaker from the birth and the parents feel they cannot afford the expenses. While few NGO have come forward to born these expenses if the child is born with such ailment, who can understand the feelings of the parents seeing their child go through such sufferings from day ONE.

The parents feels it is wise to go for abortion (or kill in my word as the court feels it’s a murder of one life) at this stage rather than to see the baby born with limited life capacity. If the parent feels they can’t afford to see this baby born with physical ailments, who has the right to stop them from doing so? As by all means, it’s the parents who are going to look after the child and not any NGO. If the abortion is valid before 20 weeks, what’s wrong in having exception to go for abortion after 20 weeks? But law doesn’t go with feelings; it is right in their own way.

But what would be going through the minds of the parents now? As per court order, if the child is LET to be born, but with all physical problems as per doctors view, who is going to take care of that child? If the parents are willing to sacrifice the child now itself, what love or affection would they have with that child if its born as per court order and not out of their own love /affection? Even if some miracle happens & the child is born without any problem, what if the child comes to know about the decision taken by their parents. Will it have any sort of respect to his / her parents?

While I am no right person to say or judge whether the court order is right / wrong, my thinking towards the entire episode is more towards the actual feelings of the parents rather than the pages of law. More disturbing factor is some section feels that the parents could have easily gone for abortion illegally as many doctors are ready to do such things. But suggesting the parents have gone to court only to gain publicity. What utter nonsense is this? If someone goes to court in a legal way, instead of respecting their courage and faith in law, why people start discouraging such acts?

Anyhow, if not for anybody, I am really eager to know further proceedings on this case. While the entire nation is divided, the central government today clearly said it has no intention to change the current abortion laws in India. So what will the parents do now? Will they re-appeal? What if they have to face the same result? Will the child be born with heart problems? Whoever claims this abortion as illegal, will they come to support the child?

I wish the child should be born without any problem. It might be a loss for the doctor’s prediction & the mother’s decision, but it’s a victory to one happy family in the long run.

Best Pal?

Ma Did I get any call or sms from anyone?

Venkat…This is the third time you have called me since morning. What’s the matter?

Nothing ma, I am expecting few important calls or sms, that’s why checking up with you?

If its so important, then why did you leave your cell phone here last night?

That’s my biggest mistake, I cant travel all the way back to home to collect it, I can pick up only next weekend, that's why I troubling you now.

What important call you are expecting to receive? Any problem…?

No, no, nothing, Ok, I’m keeping the phone, I will call you some other time.. bye.

Shit yaar, this is the biggest goof up I’ve made, today is friendship day, that too on Sunday, how could I possibly forget it & missed my cell phone back home? How well I planned to wish my friends on this day, all my well drafted messages would now go in vain! I can very well call them to wish, but I might not be that much expressive over phone as much in writing, Oh god, how did I miss it!

How I wished sending my first friendship day wish to Amrita… I am sure she would be waiting for my sms by now… I am so lucky to have her in my team, she is the best I could ever imagine.

Amrita Mobile:

A coin is easy to earn, a friend is hard to find. The coin depreciates but a friend appreciates. I lost a coin when I smsed u, but it's okay because I got u.

Send message to: Arun, Shekar, Shweta, Nalini, Nandini. Done.

Sheweta would be my next one, she is cool, ever understanding and always keep things under control. I’m sorry Shweta, I couldn’t send you my wish.

Shewata Mobile:

A friend is a push when you have stopped, a chat when u r lonely, a guide when u r searching, a smile when u r sad, a song when u r glad.

Send message to: Amrita, Nalini, Nandini, Shubha, Sunita, Vishal, Raj. Done.

Even if I can make up amrita and Shweta for not wishing them, I don’t think I can ever convince Nalini, she would damn be angry with me, for not wishing her. I would have tough time tomorrow in consoling her.

Nalini Mobile:

50 years from now, I'd be so old I might forget u. I might not remember ever knowing u, or might forget I once cared for u. I might.. but I won't.

Send message to: Amrita, Shweta, Nandini, Subha, Mani, Darsheel. Done.

Ma, did you check it?

No venkat, still no calls or sms from anyone.

Is my phone working, did you check it?

How to check it?

Oh god, you call my number from your LAN, if it rings, it means it is working. I’m keeping the phone down, I’ll call you after 10 minutes.

I remember nandini used to say she cherishes her friends very much, so bad that I wont be able to see her beautiful friendship day sms today. She does make lot of fun of me, but I am sure she always cherish me as her good friend.

Nandini Mobile:

Some friends are remembered because of their smile. Some friends are remembered because of their style. But u are remembered because u r so nice to remember.

Send message to: Amrita, Shweta, Subha, Farooq, Ismail, Rakesh. Done.


Megha Mobile:

I admit I'll never be the perfect friend. I'll never be there always. I may not make u smile at times but there is one thing I admit I could do. To be the person I could be for u.

Send message to: Venkat.

Ma, did you try calling my phone, is it working?

Yes, it is working fine, infact you have even got a new SMS.

Oh wow great, who has sent it. I guess it should be Sheweta… no, no it should be Amrita, right?

No, it is someone…

Nalini….

Will you allow me to talk…

Nandini….

I am keeping the phone, if you don’t allow me to talk..

Oh ho sorry mah,… who it is?

You have got one SMS from Megha wishing you for friendship day…

Oh meghava… I thought it would be from my friends list.. ok leave it, I will call you after some time and get updated from you.

Stop it venkat, it’s already 10:00 PM, nobody will be mad like you making phone calls for such trivial things, I accept I behave with you like a friend rather than a mother, but it doesn’t mean I would be silent for your silly acts, now stop worrying & go to bed…

But mom….

Listen venkat,..anyway you are going to office tomorrow, you can very well know from them who have sent what message, why are you unnecessarily wasting phone call?

You won’t understand this generation friend’s ma, you are too old… ok, I’m keeping the phone.

Why didn’t I receive any message from Amrita or Shweta. May be they are not in town I think, but it doesn’t stop them from sending me a message right… but atleast nalini or nandini could have wished me, even they didn’t… why? Am I not their friend? All these days I thought I am one among their friends circle. I admit it’s been only six month I’ve joined this company and may be know them good for last 3 months, but all these 3 months how much time they might have made fun of me, made me look like a bakra, they always used to pull my leg and I thought it’s all part of our friendship, are they just used me?... no, it can’t be.. I think I am unnecessarily confusing myself, if they don’t think me as their friend this time, so what? I like them very much, and I am sure they will accept me as their friend one day…

Eh megha, did you get a reply from Venkat..

No dear, I don’t think I will get one either…

Why, why you think so? Chances are there he might have gone to his hometown, and left his cell here..

May be yes, but he usually never forgets his cell, he is very fond of it…

So why do you think he wont reply to your message then?

Bcoz he doesn’t think me as his friend…

Oh god, what is this nonsense? if that’s the case, then why you bother much for him leave it nah…

So what if he doesn’t think me as his friend, I cherish his relationship, he is a very good hearted person, little childish, very sensitive, but still I like him very much, he can be trusted, he isn’t mature sometimes, may be that’s why he doesn’t value my friendship…

I really don’t understand this, you care for him a lot, you respect him a lot, and always you used to talk about him with me, but still he doesn’t think you as a friend, what a injustice?

You know what? I have read somewhere, friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest or who came the first… or even for that matter who cares the best… it’s all about who came and never left…. So I might have come late, I might have less appeal compared to other friends he likes, for that matter I might not have all those ingredients which will make him feel happy or satisfy him.. but I am sure I would always stand by him, I will wait for that moment, when he values my friendship…

Till then…

Till then, nothing to worry, I am happy to have him in my life, he is a good person, for all those moments which looks so ordinary for him, our casual talks, our official hi & bye’s… haha.. our official smile… all might be a mere formality for him, but those are the moments I feel I am blessed with a good friend..

But why only him, may be he isn’t worth all your caring…

Very difficult to explain, but some people when u meet them for the first time, something tells us he/ she isn’t the same person whom we meet everyday, and Venkat is someone special for me and I always look forward to his friendship… ok...anyway... now it’s already 12:00, good night..

hmm...hope you are not upset…

Why should I ? anyway I have a got a good understanding sister like you with whom I can share everything… so nothing to worry..ok.. good night.. sweet dreams…

ma... sorry ma.. did you get any sms or call?